Government primary schools in the Talwandi Sabo block of Punjab’s Bathinda district are emerging as a preparatory ground for admission to Navodaya Vidyalayas. With smart panels provided by HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) and the dedicated efforts of school staff, 25 students from six villages in the Talwandi Sabo block have secured admission to Navodaya Vidyalayas this year.
Notably, 15 students from the Government Primary School in Gyana village have been selected for Navodaya, making it the first school to achieve such a feat in one go. Many of these students relocated to Gyana village, staying with their maternal relatives (nanihaal) or other relatives to prepare for the competitive exam.
Last year, 12 students from this school were selected for Navodaya. This transformation is remarkable, considering that just five years ago, the school was struggling with broken boundary walls and a lack of infrastructure, discouraging parents from enrolling their children. Thanks to the support of HMEL Guru Gobind Singh Refinery, the school now boasts a strong track record of students successfully passing competitive exams and securing admission to Navodaya Vidyalayas, run under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
To prepare students for these exams, HMEL provided smart panels, and teachers like Gurudarsan Singh, Ranjit Singh, and Amandeep Mann conducted special reasoning classes, elevating the school's reputation. Similarly, in Kotbakhtu village, under the guidance of Head Teacher Navtej Singh, six students have been selected for Navodaya for the second consecutive year. So far, 27 students from Kotbakhtu have joined Navodaya. Additionally, students from Sukhladdi, Singo, Laleana, and Mahinangal have also secured seats in Navodaya this year.
Relocating for Education: Students Moving to Gyana for Better Opportunities
Due to the high demand for admission in Gyana’s primary school, parents from nearby villages and towns, who have relatives in Gyana, are sending their children to stay there and study.
For example, Rajveer Kaur from Jangirana village in Bathinda moved in with her aunt in Gyana to prepare for the competitive exams and enrolled in the school. Similarly, Gurkeerat Singh from Mehma Sarja village stayed with his maternal relatives in Gyana to study there. Sahajpreet Kaur from Ghuman Kalan village in Maur Mandi also relocated to her maternal home in Gyana to attend the special coaching classes.
Abhijeet Singh from Rama Mandi initially studied at Ramsara School but later shifted to Gyana, where he stayed with his maternal family and prepared for the Navodaya entrance exam. All these students have now successfully cleared the exam and secured admission to Navodaya Vidyalaya.
Infrastructure Support from HMEL and Special Classes by Teachers Lead to 43 Navodaya Selections from Gyana Village
The first student from Gyana village to be selected for Navodaya Vidyalaya was Gurudarsan Singh in 1994. After completing his B.Ed and securing a government job, he returned in 2018 as the Head Teacher of the same school. He, along with his fellow teachers, set a goal to help more students secure admission to Navodaya.
However, the school was in poor condition—its boundary wall was broken, classrooms were insufficient, and parents hesitated to enroll their children. At the time, the school had only 150 students. Gurudarsan Singh and his colleagues sought assistance from HMEL Guru Gobind Singh Refinery, which provided funding for a new boundary wall, additional classrooms, a mid-day meal shed, sanitation facilities, an RO water system, uniforms, stationery, an inverter, furniture, smart panels, and interlocking tiles for the premises.
As a result, student enrollment increased, and trust in the school grew. To further inspire the community, Gurudarsan Singh enrolled his own children in the school, setting an example. Today, 43 students from this school have made it to Navodaya, with 26 selections in just the last two years.
Smart Panels Help in Logical Reasoning Study for Competitive Exams: Gurudarsan Singh
"We realized that students were facing difficulties in reasoning subjects required for competitive exams. To address this, we approached HMEL, which provided smart panels. These panels helped in teaching logical reasoning effectively, improving students’ results. This year, 14 students from our school were selected for Navodaya, a record achievement for the region. My colleagues and I conduct extra classes to ensure students get the best preparation to clear competitive exams."